ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A 42-year-old man in Rowan County was convicted of murder of an unborn child after assaulting his former girlfriend.
A Rowan County Superior Court jury convicted Raymond Jerel Callicutt last week.
Callicutt was arrested in 2023 for the death of Josiah Randolph Hearne. On Nov. 11, 2023, Callicutt was accused of assaulting his former girlfriend while she was pregnant with Callicutt’s baby.
The victim went to the hospital after experiencing what she called worrying symptoms days after the attack. Her visit resulted in emergency surgery and the premature birth of her son, Josiah, who arrived 24 weeks early.
Josiah survived for approximately 11 to 12 hours before succumbing to his injuries sustained during the assault, according to the sheriff’s office. A medical examination revealed that Josiah suffered extensive internal damage to his brain, heart, lungs, and liver, alongside documented injuries sustained by his mother.
Detectives with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation into the assault and the injuries inflicted on the woman and her child. Callicutt also had a prior arrest for trespassing at the victim’s home.
Superior Court Judge Clifton H. Smith sentenced Callicutt to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
In addition to the life sentence without parole for the murder conviction, Callicutt received additional sentences of 120 days for misdemeanor convictions.